Baseball Completes Sweep Over UCLA 5-1
March 25, 2002
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – – The Miami Hurricanes (15-11) completed the three-game sweep over visiting UCLA (13-16), 5-1, in front of 1,474 fans Monday night at Mark Light Stadium. It is the second series sweep of the season for Miami, which also swept Minnesota at home earlier in the season.
UM starter Dan Touchet (2-1) went a career-long 6.0 innings with five hits, one unearned run, one walk and six strikeouts in 82 pitches. The six strikeouts were also a career-high. It was the second straight night a Hurricane starting pitcher allowed no earned runs. Closer George Huguet earned his fourth save of the season.
UCLA starter Casey Janssen (4-1) went 7.0 innings with seven hits, four runs (one earned), no walks, 12 strikeouts and one balk in 130 pitches to earn his first loss of the season. The 7.0 innings pitched and 12 strikeouts were career-highs for Janssen.
In the game, Kevin Howard, Danny Matienzo and Brad Safchik each continued career-long hit streaks with 21 and nine, respectively. Javy Rodriguez and Kevin Mannix also continued hitting streaks to 12 and 10 games. The 21-game streak by Howard ties for the third longest at Miami, while Matienzo’s 20-game streak is tied for fourth longest.
Howard’s double in the seventh was the 50th of his career, tying him for sixth place at UM. The Matienzo home run in the eighth inning put in a tie for 10th place at UM with 32 career home runs. Huguet’s save was his 18th overall, tying him for sixth place on the UM list.
The game began with the Bruins loading the bases in the first inning with one out showing, but Touchet struck out Adam Berry and Wes Whisler to end the early threat.
The first runs were scored as the Hurricanes scored twice in the third inning on three hits and one error. Mannix led off with a single up the middle and moved to second on Joey Hooft’s sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. Mannix advanced to the third on Danny Figueroa’s successful bunt single back to the pitcher. Figueroa then stole second to put both runners in scoring position. Safchik followed with a RBI double off the wall in centerfield to score Mannix. On the play, Figueroa was thrown out at home, while Safchik went to third. Rodriguez drove in Safchik as he reached on a fielding error by the shortstop.
UCLA scored once in the fifth inning, 2-1, as the Hurricanes committed three errors. Ryan Rasmussen first reached on an error by Rodriguez. The next batter, Chris Jensen, followed with a single to centerfield, but Figueroa over ran the ball allowing Rasmussen to score, then he overthrew the cut-off to allow Jensen to move to second.
Miami added two runs, 4-1, in the seventh off two UCLA errors. Howard came around to score from second on a fielding error by the centerfielder on a Jim Burt single. Howard had led off with a double down the left field line. Burt moved to second on the play. He would then score on a throwing error by the shortstop on a Hooft grounder.
Matienzo put UM ahead, 5-1, in the eighth with a solo home run to right center off reliever Mike Kunes.
The Hurricanes return to the diamond Tuesday night against Northwestern at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium. The game can be heard on the Internet at www.hurricanesports.com or on the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM. Miami will host Elon University this weekend in a three-game series beginning Friday night.
Log on to www.hurricanesports.com for updated news on the University of Miami athletics program, tickets and apparel. For ticket information call the Hurricane box office at 1-800 GO CANES.
